Bikes a Way of Life to Some of Us

Bicycling sure beats Walking

Some of us ride a bike for fun while other ride a bike as a necessity to get around and while walking is probably the oldest form of transportation, the bicycle made its entrance in 1817 in the city of Baden Germany. I bet when the bikes were mass produced, many people were thrilled to get across town a lot faster than walking and no horse or donkey to feed and care for! The early bicycle didn't even have chains or pedals. The riders just used their feet for power. Doesn't seem very efficient. I'm sure though that after a while a few people managed to make a living on their bikes. Others found that their bikes gave them the freedom to discard other forms of transportation and in that sence their bikes became a fundamental part of their life, at least until the automobile was invented. Even today we have people who depend on these 2-wheeled contraptions to get them about their way of living. While some people buy $3,000 bicycles to either race or tour, the frugal riders can pick up bicycles at a garage sale for $20 and with a little oil and a few minor adjustments be ready to glide down Life's Highway. I just hope these often and regular pedallers keep their eyes open for the cars that are not really looking for bikes and as more bicyclers grace our roads, streets and boulevards, I look forward to the future of more bike paths and trails to ensure a safer riding experience. This is Jimmio saying *Ride Safe - Ride for Fun -Ride for Life*

Economizing

Bike parked at the Post Office

In this day of tight budgets and layoffs and new debt ceiling limits, one must find ways to save money. This person saved on a rear bike basket with this nifty plastic milk crate. *Bravo* I say to the innovators and the frugal creators. I also have resorted to such money saving endeavors with the use of scotch tape, duct tape, bundgy cords, string, wires, chain and the wonderful bread ties. Over my 57 years on this Earth I haved owned only 3 Bicycles: A 1966 black Schwinn Racer which I recieved for getting all A's in the 5th grade, a 1974 Fuji Finest that I did a few tours on and now, Betty Lou, a Murray Elk River mountain bike. Murray Bikes are no longer in business as Briggs-N-Stratton bought them out and use their name on Lawn and Garden equipment. I'm not sure of Betty Lou's age maybe 15 to 20 years old, but she gets me around to places I need to go. Only thing I done was new tires , tubes and pedals and take the bikestand off to save on weight [Betty Lou weighs a ton] Some innovate their bikes with lots of reflective tape. This hopefully ensures cars will see you at night. I admit I'm not good at reflective clothing or tape so I have to be extra care when I hear a car comming near me. Staying on the sidewalk at night helps a lot. Some people even innovate by making homemade carriers and extre seats to haul their toddlers in [just be sure its a safe sturdy connection to your bike] and pets also get to ride in some ingenious devices hooked to the handlebars. Also a good way to economize is go slow over huge bumps and dont jump off curbs, its hard on the rims and always go around potholes [your bike will thank you as well as your bones] -This is Jimio saying *Ride Fun* *Ride Safe* *Ride Frugally*

A Relaxful Ride

Mom taking young son out for a stroll

Oh what a wonderful first week of January I have seen! Upper 40s and low 50s most days and every day totally sunny, great for pedalling and picture taking. I'm enjoying this Global Warming, whether its true or not [I feel it is] and I hope to see less snow and ice covered streets this winter. As I was riding, I stopped to talk to this happy mom taking her son for a walk. She told me to have a safe ride and I said I had to be very careful because many drivers never watch for bikes here since they never encounter them often enough to really watch out for us. I told her we needed more bike lanes and paths and she said in Ann Arbor where she works there are many more bike lanes. I suppose this is true since the University of Michigan is located in the center of Ann Arbor and you have so many students getting around by bicycle. Im sure most Ann Arbor drivers are well aware of the bicycles pedalling about. When ever I drove to Ann Arbor to the U of M Chessclub I passed many a 2-Wheeled commuter and felt frustrated if they got in my way. Its only natural and I feel frustrated when I'm pedalling. Its only recently that I have a greater appreciation for pedallers since I have been riding Betty Lou these past 5 years. I now respect both cars and pedallers, but I do feel the cars must give bicyclers more respect due to their greater ability to inflict damage. It's very hard for a bike to hurt someone in a car but the opposite is quite the reverse. Well enough of this sad talk, I have noticed the streets have been unusually devoid of people this past week. No doubt it's due to them trying to recover from all the festivities. In a way that beneficial to me [less cars to contend with or pedestrians to swerve around but less people to take pics of] Anyways, here's hoping things get a little better and not a lot worse for here, there and everywhere [Universe Included] -Jimio saying *Ride Safe* *Ride Healthy* *Ride Happy*

Pretty in Pink Mrs. Clause

Mrs Clause's Underthingeys

It never fails to amaze me what imagination can spring wild from our local residents. The last bastion of decency has been eroded from the Santa Clause household with this display of tender undergarments[Santa probably wears bright red underwear so its only fitting the Mrs wears pink] Either this woman thinks she is Mrs Clause or that this is a relative of Mrs Clause, possibly a sister or a cousin. In any event I just had to take a picture for posterity for she might move next year to the North Pole being how the way economic conditions are. I just hope her Frilleys dry in time for the Annual Visit from her Uncle, Brother or Cousin St. Nick on Christmas Day. Im dying to know what will be put in that Stocking.  This is Jimio saying *Ride Safe-Ride Warm-Watch for Sleighs*

A Few Things about Leaves

Betty Lou meets a new Friend!

Now that Fall is in full swing, I need to mention a few things about leaves. Sure they smell nice and look pretty but when they are piled up on the sidewalks , streets or bike paths they can be very dangerous to us Pedalers. For one thing dont try plowing through a pile of leaves because you never know what may be under them. A rake or some kids toys they have buried under the pile of leaves can cause a flat tire or bent rims or worse a sprained or broken ankle. Ride slowly if you must ride over any amount or thickness of leaves [especially wet leaves] and dont make a sharp turn on them unless you like diving towards the ground [very useful for stunt bicycler practice] And be careful also about riding in rural roads during hunting season. Bullets can and do fly across roads! This is Jimio saying *Ride Safe* *Ride Fun* *Ride for Health*

Love Meeting Other Bikers

Two Dedicated Pedallers

As I was cruising around town on Betty Lou, I happened to notice two guys taking a break. At first I thought the black bike was a tandem but low and behold it is a 2-wheel recumbent. The owner says the shield on the front helps cut through the wind and it also helps keep cold air off of him. The shield is made of a soft plastic and will "give" in the event of a spill or crash so is less likely to break or shatter. I lifted up the other guy's trek bike and it was like holding up a feather compared to the tank weight of my bike Betty Lou. If you look closely under the top bar of the recumbent bike, there is a hand -pump to inflate a new inner tube in the case of a flat. A necessity on 100 mile tours! This is Jimio saying *Ride Happy* *Ride Safe*

The Pedaling Army Grows

A Tree makes an excellent Bike-Rack

I saw this bicycle while pedaling around today. A nice cheap efficient mode of transportation. It appears to be a Huffy Bike. Has the basket on the handelbars to carry milk, groceries, and booze. Don't drink the booze till you get home! There are even 2 tie-down stretchy cords to secure the packages in place. I noticed the the chain is extremely rusty. I'm surprised it doesnt snap off. I like to oil my chain regularly which makes it very quiet. Easy to sneek up on wild animals like deer and groundhogs. I see the bike also has shocks on the front fork. That must give smoother rides over bumps and cracks but I wonder how long the shocks really work before they wear out? I also see the bike has big knobs on the tires which can help during winter riding. I am seeing more bikes on the roads these days. It maybe due to people not being able to afford a car or more people are getting their license revoked for drunk driving. You still can get arrested for drunk bicycling so dont think that you can still get away with drinking and driving or drinking and pedalling. I can't stress this enough: Pedalers are no match vs an Automobile, so we must be as careful and as defensive as we can be and in a sober state of healthy alertness. If you think the car does not see you then stop. Give the car the right of way if you must. Your life may be saved by it. If at all possible yell, or wave your arms to get a drivers attention. It beats getting run over. This is Jimio saying - Ride Safe, Ride Defensive, Ride Free and above all Ride Happy [To Paradise]